UK smoking rates at record low

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)[1] show that smoking rates fell to 13.3 % in the UK in 2021 and 13 % in England. This is a decrease from the 2020 results with prevalences of 14% in the UK and 13.8 % in England. The ONS estimates that there are currently 6.6 million smokers in the UK. Despite this continued decline, the government is unlikely to meet its target of achieving a smoke-free generation by 2030.

Among the countries making up the United Kingdom, the highest proportion of smokers in 2021 was in Scotland (14.8%) and the lowest in England (13%); Wales and Northern Ireland had 14.1% and 13.8% smokers respectively.

Delay in the goal of a tobacco-free generation by 2030

UK comes in first place alongside Ireland on Tobacco Control Scale[2] (TCS) which assesses the measures adopted by European countries to combat smoking. While the country is doing well according to the TCS, further efforts are essential to achieve the set goal of a tobacco-free generation. An independent government analysis of tobacco policy[3], which was the subject of a report, highlighted that if the government does not step up its fight against smoking, it will not achieve its goal of a tobacco-free generation by 2030, particularly among the most disadvantaged social categories. As in France, smoking is a social marker in England, and contributes to widening health inequalities within the population. Smoking prevalence varies greatly depending on the region: residents of more working-class cities such as Manchester have relatively high levels of consumption (20.8%), while more affluent cities such as Wokingham or Richmond upon Thames record much lower smoking prevalences among their population (respectively 5.5% and 6%). Similarly, people without qualifications were more likely to be tobacco users (28.2 %) than those with qualifications (6.6 %) in 2021[4].

The government report recommends investing more in the fight against smoking, with an additional £125 million per year, or around €145 million. In particular, part of this investment should be devoted to improving the care and support of smokers in quitting smoking.

Significant increase in consumption of vaping products

The decline in smoking numbers could be partly due to more people turning to e-cigarettes, said James Tucker, head of data and analysis in the ONS's health and social care directorate.

Based on data collected in August and September 2021 as part of the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) of people aged 16 and over, 7.7% of respondents in the UK in 2021 reported using e-cigarettes daily or occasionally. This equates to around 4 million adults in the population; this is an increase on the 2020 data, when 6.4% of people reported using an e-cigarette daily or occasionally. The proportion of vapers was highest among current cigarette smokers (25.3%) and ex-cigarette smokers (15.0%). 1.5% of never smokers reported currently vaping.

This high prevalence of vaping is also reflected among UK secondary school students. According to the 2021 Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England report, 9,100 of 11-15 year olds currently use e-cigarettes compared to 6,100 in 2018. According to the same study, the most common reasons given by students to explain why they think young people their age smoke/vape are: “to look cool in front of friends” (8,100), because they are “addicted to cigarettes” (7,300) and “their friends push them to smoke” (7,200).[5].

Keywords: England, United Kingdom, tobacco-free generations, smoking prevalence, vaping, young people

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[1] Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2021, Office for National Statistics published December 6, accessed December 9, 2022

[2] Tobacco-free generation, Ireland, UK and France on the podium of the tobacco control scale in 2021, published on December 2, 2022, consulted on December 9, 2022

[3] Tobacco-free generation, UK: Mission makes recommendations for quitting smoking, published June 22, 2022, accessed December 9, 2022

[4] Tobacco-free generation, England wants to fight social inequalities in the face of tobacco, published on February 7, 2022, consulted on December 9, 2022

[5] Tobacco-free generation, England: Vaping up and smoking down among 11-15 year olds, published September 12, 2022, accessed December 9, 2022